While some have called Murray Hill a “culinary wasteland,” one thing all would agree on is that this area of Manhattan has some fantastic pizza restaurants. This is New York City, after all, and one thing New Yorkers demand is great pizza. Murray Hill is no exception; in fact, Murray Hill is probably one of the best neighborhoods in the city this side of Little Italy if you’re looking for great pizza. Here a list of five great pizza places in Murray Hill. Each one is unique, and I like all of them. But some are better for some occasions than are others. Included in this review is my suggestion as to what the ideal time or occasion for each would be, in my view.
Vezzo offers a wide variety of eclectic pizza toppings. Vezzo delivers, but as great as the food is, part of the appeal to Vezzo is also the experience. It’s not extravagant or particularly unique by New York or even Murray Hill standards, but its a warm, dark and friendly place that is lively and fun.
Vezzo offers the opportunity to make a ‘customer pie’ which customers can select from among 42 toppings. A large 16″ pizza with no toppings is $13.00. Individual size pizzas, at 9″, are also available for $6.50.
The toppings themselves range in price from $1.00 to $5.00 each. Some of the more interesting, and popular toppings include prosciutto di parma, andouile sausage, french goat cheese and shitake mushrooms.
Vezzo Pizza also offers twelve “house pizzas”, which are listed on the menu and contain a combination of a subset of the toppings available for the custom pies. The names alone of these are enough to make you hungry! The Vezzo menu includes house pizzas such as the Manzo, the Pineapple, the Fafandone and the Chixpotle. For a vegetarian option, Vezzo Pizza offers Formaggio Bianco, which includes two types of cheeses and spinach and basil, and my personal favorite, the Shroomtown, which, as you might guess, is loaded with mushrooms.
BEST MURRAY HILL PIZZA PLACE FOR: A relaxed but somewhat intimate night out with your spouse or significant other.
Address, Hours and Phone
178 Lexington Avenue (Corner of Lexington Avenue and 31st Street)
Monday through Thursday 11AM to 11PM
Friday 11AM to Midnight
Saturday Noon to Midnight
Sunday Noon to 11PM
Phone (212) 839-8300
Delivery is available every day around Murray Hill until 10:00PM
Patsy’s
Wow, this pizza is delicious! It’s a great place in Murray Hill for pizza, and it’s one of several locations around New York City. It is thin crust, classic New York City Pizza. Some people when they think of New York style pizza, think immediately of Patsy’s.
Patsy’s offers good service, and a small bar with a decent wine selection. And while the restaurant is nice and family friendly, you go to the Murray Hill Patsy’s for one thing: the great pizza. It is a bit cramped, but nobody seems to mind. The Patsy’s at Murray Hill does not accept credit cards. My advice is to keep it simple here. I like the pepperoni pizza, my wife likes the mushroom. Either way it is delicious and I wouldn’t suggest putting to many toppings on it and distracting from how good the sauce, cheese and crust are and how carefully prepared they are coming out of a brick oven! The toppings are basic…this is the antithesis of California Pizza Kitchen.
Patsy’s uses only fresh ingredients, such as s the homemade mozzarella and the fresh vegetables and meats. Patsy’s also offers pasta and it’s good, but hard to order in the face of Patsy’s legendary pizza.
Small pizzas at the Patsy’s in Murray Hill are $14.00 and large pizzas cost $16.00 There are 14 toppings available and are $2.50 each.
BEST MURRAY HILL PIZZA PLACE FOR: Well, anytime you want authentic New York pizza. But I make a point to bring out of towners here as they can’t get this kind of pizza anywhere else.
Address, Hours and Phone
509 Third Avenue (between 34th and 35th Streets)
Sunday through Thursday 12:00PM to 11:00PM
Friday and Saturday 12:00PM to 12:00AM
Pizza 33
Pizza 33 is known for its creative pizza topping and arrangements. They offer individual size pie, ranging from $6.50 for a regular cheese pizza to $14.50 for a Terra e Mare, which features shrimp and procini mushrooms. They also medium and large pizzas, with large pizza ranging from $14.00 to $22.00.
Some of the more popular pizzas at Pizza 33 is the Lasagna Pizza, the Quatro Stagioni, which features 1/4 mushroom, 1/4 artichoke, 1/4 gaeta olives and 1/4 prosciutto toppings.
For vegetarians who want more than a cheese pizza, the Il Giardino, which includes basil, artichoke, broccoli, onions and mushrooms, is available. My personal favorite is the Margherita pizza, which in most places might be considered “boring”, but Pizza 33 knows how to do Margherita pizza the right way!
There is limited seating available. Despite the creative and eclectic options, this is really designed to stop in for a slice or a casual dining experience. It’s somewhat kid friendly, but a bit crowded. The menu goes beyond pizza and includes calzones and rolls (ie a pepperoni roll) and four different subs. But the majority of the food here is pizza and it’s focused on providing pizza to Murray Hill residents.
Pizza 33 is adjacent to a seemingly endless number of bars and nightclubs and as such stays open very late and caters to that crowd as well. Though I’m past the age of staying out that late, the few times I’ve walked by late at night, I’ve noticed it’s quite a scene and very different than the daytime! There is no alcohol served at Pizza 33 in Murray Hill.
Address, Hours and Phone
489 3rd Avenue (corner of 33rd Street and 3rd Avenue)
Open 7 Days a Week 11:00AM to 3:00AM
Phone (212) 545-9191
Delivery is available every day until 11:00PM around the Murray Hill area.
California Pizza Kitchen, or CPK, is on the west side of Park Avenue, probably just barely able to be considered as a ‘Murray Hill’ restaurant. It also is not unique to Murray Hill or to New York, as California Pizza Kitchen is a nationwide chain of pizza restaurants. The New York pizza purist may not take immediately to California Pizza Kitchen as the toppings include some very unconventional choices that aren’t really associated with New York Pizza. Also, the menu is wide ranging and includes much more than just pizza. The atmosphere is decidedly un-New York and very much, well, California. BUT, this is a good place. Just not a place to experience the Murray Hill or New York pizza experience. As a father of three kids, this is an excellent place to go for a family night out. The restaurant is very spacious and there is plenty of room for strollers and wandering kids. There is a stylish bar, with big screen televisions, but for the number of families that always seem to be there, that’s somewhat besides the point.
BEST MURRAY HILL PIZZA PLACE FOR: A family night out with younger kids
Monday through Thursday 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday and Saturday 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Delivery is available every day around the Murray Hill area.
La Pizzeria
La Pizzeria is a no frills pizza place. And I mean that in a very complimentary way. It’s just good, solid, basic New York style pizza right in Murray Hill. It has all the options, be it mushrooms, sausage, garlic, olives, onions, meatballs, peppers, etc. They also offer a Sicilian pizza, baked calzones, salads and an assortment of subs. La Pizzeria is clean and no frills, and seating is usually available immediately or fairly quickly as many Murray Hill residents come in just for a quick slice and therefore the dining area turns over frequently. A large pizza costs Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted.
Delivery available around Murray Hill with a minimum order of $5.00.
BEST MURRAY HILL PIZZA PLACE FOR: A quick slice. Or two.
Address, Hours and Phone
442 3rd Avenue (between 30th and 31st Streets)
Open 7 Days a Week
Monday through Friday 11:00AM – Late
Saturday and Sunday Noon – Late
Phone (212) 532-0097
So there you have it, my five favorite pizza places in the Murray Hill area of Manhattan. Each one quite different, though each one very good.
